During MIPIM, Cannes Lions and other major congresses, companies charter yachts and berth them in the Vieux Port, next to the Palais des Festivals. The yacht becomes a branded corporate venue visible to delegates walking the quay. Banners, flags, custom carpets and company logos turn it into a floating headquarters.
This is not an accessory to your congress presence. For many corporate clients, the yacht is the presence.
The Berth Is the Billboard
Every major Cannes congress concentrates foot traffic along the same strip of waterfront. The Jetée Albert Edouard (also called Quai d’Honneur) sits in the Vieux Port, steps from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Yachts moored along this jetty are in front of delegates every day of the congress.
At Cannes Lions, the yacht area is called Yacht Row. It sits directly behind the Palais des Festivals, where the official content and awards ceremonies take place, according to the festival. During MIPIM, the harbor and the Jetée Albert Edouard are fully integrated into the event floor plan, according to the organizer (mipim.com). During MIPIM, Cannes Lions and TFWA, directional signage on the Croisette and at the major entry points leads delegates to the harbor. The berth is not decorative. It is part of the exhibition.
That positioning matters. A branded yacht in the Vieux Port sits in the sightline of delegates moving between the Palais, the restaurants and the beach pavilions. The visibility is constant and passive.
What Goes on the Yacht
Dockside branding typically covers the exterior and the interior. Outside: banners along the hull and superstructure, custom flags at the stern and on the flybridge, branded carpets on the gangway and deck areas, company logos in the yacht’s colors. Inside: branded menus, directional signage and personalized materials for guests.
Some companies keep it subtle: logo flags and a branded gangway carpet. Others commission large-format banners running the length of the hull. The level depends on the congress rules, the yacht owner’s terms and port regulations.
No permanent modifications are made. Banners are mounted temporarily. Carpets are laid over teak decks with protective underlays. Flags are rigged to existing hardware. Everything comes down at the end of the charter period.
Getting a Berth Next to the Palais
Berths in front of the Palais are limited and managed through each congress’s official channels. This is not a matter of showing up with a yacht.
For MIPIM, companies purchase a Harbour Pack from the organizers (RX France). According to mipim.com, the pack includes MIPIM passes (the number depends on the size of the boat), an equipped welcome area on the pier and access to the MIPIM online directory with a priority profile. Berth reservations go through IGY Marinas, the operator of the Vieux Port (see its event procedure (PDF)).
For Cannes Lions, the festival runs a Yacht Partnership. According to the festival’s 2025 yacht partnership program, it includes official partner status, a dedicated berth in the harbor, branding across digital and physical platforms, access to the pre-festival delegate list, inclusion on the official festival map and complimentary Classic delegate passes. Details are on the festival’s partnerships page.
In both cases, berths are limited and the best yachts go first. We recommend booking 6 to 9 months ahead for MIPIM and Cannes Lions. See our Cannes congress yacht calendar for the booking window of each congress, and the IGY Marinas 2027 allocation commissions calendar (PDF).
The Dual-Purpose Format
A yacht serves several roles in one day. Mornings and afternoons: structured meetings, presentations and working lunches in a private, quiet setting. On a 30 m yacht, we count at least 4 meeting areas for 2 to 8 people, indoors and outdoors. Evenings: the same space converts into a cocktail reception venue. Some clients also use the yacht as their base for the whole week, with the team sleeping on board.
Some of our clients, such as Arthur Loyd, Norton Rose Fulbright, Amazon, GWI and CivicScience, have hosted guests on yachts we arranged. The pattern is the same across industries: the yacht is the meeting room, the dining room and the reception hall, branded end to end.
What the Broker Coordinates
Dockside branding is not a simple order. The broker handles the berth application with IGY Marinas and the congress organizers, coordinates branding production and installation, arranges teak deck protection during setup, books external caterers for large receptions (yacht chefs handle daily service, not large receptions), organizes AV equipment for presentations and manages security and access control for guest lists.
Ocean Five coordinates the full process for Cannes congresses, from yacht selection to branding installation and teardown. We work with local production teams who know the port, the regulations and the timing constraints of each event. Contact us with your dates and your branding brief.
Planning a branded yacht presence at your next Cannes congress? Contact charter@ocean5yachts.com. Berths are limited, so the earlier the better. For a sense of budget, read what a day charter in Cannes costs.
Last updated: October 2026
